La Doux exhibit at Art Reach gives new life to discarded objects

Artist Justin LaDoux of Alma stands next to his first piece created from recycled material at Art Reach in Mt. Pleasant Monday, July 1, 2013. "My goal is to make it look like something, and then when you get closer you see what it's made out of," said LaDoux. (Sun photo by KEN KADWELL/@KenKadwell).

Pieces of washers and dryers, scrap metal and mundane kitchen utensils aren’t commonly considered as works of art – unless they’re used by an artist whose inner eye sees things differently.

Someone like Justin La Doux.

His repurposed spoons, forks and knives are twisted and melded together to form creatures like big cats prowling in a jungle where an equally fantastical monkey swings from a scrap-metal tree, and a scrappy human skeleton holds a globe of the planet we call Earth.

La Doux’s unique life-sized sculptures spring to life via the dioramas and individual pieces that are on display now through the end of July at the Art Reach of Mid Michigan Gallery, located at 111 E. Broadway in downtown Mt. Pleasant. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays; 10 to 4, Saturdays; no admission charge.

The show is part of the Art Reach 2013 Exhibiting Artist monthly program where creations by local artists are available for viewing by an area-wide audience.

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“Art Reach appreciates the willingness of artists like Justin who support us in so many ways, including exhibiting their work at the Gallery,” Art Reach of Mid Michigan Executive Director Kathy Hill says about the pieces created by La Doux, who works in Mt. Pleasant and is a part-time art faculty member at Kirtland Community College. “This is an exceptionally creative exhibit.”

Crafting works of arts from discarded materials comes naturally to La Doux who believes there’s a new use for every “old” object.

“My dad worked for the sanitation department in Hillsdale when I was young, and would sometimes bring home toys and items that people had thrown away which were still in really good shape. I could never understand why someone would dispose of things that were still usable,” he says about the early experience with recycling that in later years was incorporated into his passion for art. “I like to create art, protect our environment and recycle – I discovered the perfect medium for accomplishing all three.”

A love of art is a constant in La Doux’s journey from finding value in recycled toys as a youth to creating award-winning works of art that are literally made from thrown-away objects.

Painting and drawing were the primary means of expression during his years at Ogemaw High School, and subsequently at Kendall College of Art & Design in Grand Rapids where he earned a Bachelor Fine Arts in Illustration degree.

“I dabbled with sculpture at Kendall, and moved into doing more and more after graduating in 2005,” La Doux says about the progression of his work and the natural inclusion of recycled objects. “By using materials that people think of as trash in my sculptures, I give them new life and create a work of art that has purpose, meaning and beauty. The purpose is to illustrate how everyone can recycle and help Mother Earth retain all her beauty.”

That objective is visible in the pieces on display at Art Reach. La Doux’s sculptures include a big turtle, owl and alligator along with the jungle-themed diorama that he admits was a challenge to install in the Gallery’s space.

“The lion barely fit through the door,” he says with a laugh about the big cat. “Fortunately, the branches are detachable from the tree, so we could take those off and put them back on when we had it inside.”

La Doux has no idea how many knives, forks and spoons he’s used in the assortment of sculptures, but says there are “lots” of those and other kitchen utensils like cheese graters and similar items.

“Any kind of scrap metal is reusable – old farm equipment, heavy metal pieces, washers and dryers. Some come from yard sales and second-hand stores, and I’ve developed a network of friends who give me things they find at places like that or are going to dispose of themselves.”

Much of the metal La Doux used in his original creations a few years ago came from his grandparent’s farm in Shelby where his parents, Gene and Arlene, now live.

“My parents have been so supportive – without them, I wouldn’t be doing what I am now,” he says, citing the struggles that come with the dream of being a professional artist. “An ultimate goal is to create art that I want to create – and have people want to buy it.”

Part of that goal was realized last year when La Doux’s diorama, “On Thin Ice,” was among the Top 25 at Art Prize 2012 in Grand Rapids. The large-scale, outdoor installation featured an assortment of intricately sculpted Arctic creatures on frozen waters made of broken glass, surrounded by icebergs crafted from five-gallon pickle buckets covered in plywood recycled from wooden sheds. The display was purchased by Ripley’s Believe It or Not, and is currently on display at its site in Mexico City.

“Placing in the top 25 at Art Prize and having Ripley’s buy the work was huge for me,” La Doux says.

The artist is hoping to repeat and even improve on that accomplishment with this year’s Art Prize entry, Big Foot. To be exact, a family of Sasquatches – Papa Big Foot, Mama Big Foot and Baby Big Foot.

“This is definitely my favorite project so far,” La Doux says. “I wanted them to be life-like and in a real setting, so the dad is walking while the baby is peeking out from behind a tree and mama is kneeling to catch a fish in a creek.”

The senior Sasquatch is 8-feet tall and weighs around 500 pounds – that’s a whole lot of kitchen utensils. La Doux used recycled washers, dryers and other larger metal objects to create the Squatches’ fur.

“The metal is cut into strips and frayed with a shears to look like fur,” the artist says, adding that Papa Big Foot has already made several public appearances, most recently in the July Fourth parade in West Branch. Photos of the giant are available on La Doux’s Facebook page.

Local residents can experience a Big Foot sighting next month during Art Reach of Mid Michigan’s Art Walk Central 2013.

“I believe he’s set to be installed in front of the Mt. Pleasant City Hall – it will be fun to drive by and see him there,” La Doux says.

Art Walk Central is planned for Aug. 7-28, in and around Mt. Pleasant. The community wide art exhibit includes first, second and third-place prizes for Best Juried Piece awards and People’s Choice awards in both youth and adult categories. An assortment of art events and activities are also planned throughout the month.

“Art Reach is a tremendous asset for everyone, not only special events like Art Walk Central but in the programs and exhibits that take place throughout the year,” La Doux says. “It’s good to be part of a community like this that supports the arts.”

For detailed information on all Art Reach programs and Art Walk Central 2013, call the Gallery at 989-773-3689, or visit www.artreachcenter.org.